LIBERTY UNIVERSITY

APOLOGETIC METHOD ANALYSIS

EVIDENTIALISM APOLOGETIC

A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO PROFESSOR JOHN DURDEN IN COMPLETION OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR APOL 500

BY JOHNNY CARTER

LYNCHBURG, VIRGINA SEPTEMBER 9,2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THESIS STATEMENT INTRODUCTION SUMMARY OF EVIDENTIALISM CRITIQUE OF EVIDENTIALISM THEOLOGIANS WHICH ALIGN WITH EVIDENTIALIST APOLOGETICS CONCLUSION BIBLIOGRAPHY

1 1 2 3 3 4 4

THESIS STATEMENT

The bible instructs all believers to always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have1 (1Peter 3:15). However, when it comes to defending Evidentialism. It takes a different approach to offer proof and reasoning, which then must establish that faith is not simply a blind concept, notwithstanding the fact that it is founded on reason and logical thought, which are joined to a faith system that is completely logical and rational.

INTRODUCTION

Before presenting a case for Christianity, we must come to grips with some very fundamental questions about the nature and relationship of faith and reason. Exactly how do we know Christianity is true?2 A better question is how do we know that God exist? This is how the antagonists or non-believers will come at Christianity. Kenneth Haugk states in his book that antagonists like to tear down rather than build up.3 I'm not saying that this particular group does not hold to their own beliefs. However, it does appear that they do have a difficult time with reasonable belief for the existence of God. It is through verbal attacks that they will come against the Christian belief and with it, they bring the ideology of philosophy, and science to the forefront. Victimizing the minds of the clueless, with the concept that the reasoning and logic of
1 2 3

Unless otherwise noted all Scripture references are from The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV) Craig, L.William, Reasonable Faith Christian Truth and Apologetics (Wheaton, Moody Press, 1984), 17 Haugk, C. Kenneth, Antagonists in the Church(Minneapolis, Augsburg Publishing, 1988), 27

the Christian faith is unjustified. The bible instructs all believers to always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have (1Peter 3:15). However, when it comes to defending Evidentialism. It takes a different approach to offer proof and reasoning, which then must establish that faith is not simply a blind concept, notwithstanding the fact that it is founded on reason and logical thought, which are joined to a faith system that is completely logical and rational.

SUMMARY OF EVIDENTIALISM Evidential apologetics stresses the need for evidence in support of the Christian truth claims. The evidence can be rational, historical, archaeological, and even experiential.4 On the other hand what if the evidence does not support the claims made for truth? What then, is the forecast for using some form of evidentialsim in our quest for an effective Christian Apologetic?5 Can a non-believer rationally use reason and logic to find the common bond made by the evidentialists? No one can truthfully answerer this question, because there will continue to be disagreements as to what is the best approach given the various difficulties with Evidentialisms principle of sufficient evidence.6 I believe that the only way to get pass this hurdle is for the evidentialist to allow the Holy Spirit to move on their behalf when presenting evidence. This is extremely important especially if the non-believer is not willing to be opened minded.

4 5

Geisler, L. Norman, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 1999), 42 Provenzola, Thomas Evidentialism in The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics. Ed Hindson, Ergun Caner (Eugene, Harvest House, 2008), 210 Ibid, 210

CRITIQUE OF EVIDENTIALIST APOLOGETIC

There are several areas of criticism in evidentialism. There is Theistic Evidentialism, which is the position that claims that Christian belief is rational and can be justified based on good arguments or evidence in a way that proportions the belief to the evidence. Then there is Conservation Evidentialism that seeks the desire to avoid falsehood than the desire to arrive at the truth. Then we have Self-defeating Evidentialism, which does not meet it own conditions for what counts as justified belief-that is, a belief that is based solely on sufficient evidence.7 After reading about all these different views I now see why Norman Geisler states the evidentialists do not rest their whole case on historical evidence. They are more eclectic, interweaving evidence from various fields. They operate like attorneys who combine evidences into an overall brief in defense of their position, trusting that the combined weight will present a persuasive case.8

THEOLOGIANS, WHICH ALIGN WITH EVIDENTIALIST APOLOGETICS

The seventeenth century Christian theistic philosopher John Locke (1632-1704) was among the first in modern philosophy to argue that we ought to proportion our beliefs to the evidence. This clearly made him an evidentialist.

Provenzola, Thomas Evidentialism in The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics. Ed Hindson, Ergun Caner (Eugene, Harvest House, 2008), 208-209 Geisler, L. Norman, Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics (Grand Rapids, Baker Books, 1999), 43

John Lockes concept was later picked up by the eighteenth century agnostic philosopher David Hume (1710-1776). Whereas Locke believed in there was sufficient evidence for Christian Belief Hume, believed differently and leveled several criticisms against classic theistic.

The nineteenth century philosopher W.K Clifford (1845-1879) advanced the work of John Locke. Clifford turned Lockes dictum into a matter of moral responsibility, arguing that it is always wrong to hold to a belief upon insufficient evidence.9

CONCLUSION

Apologetics begins by laying out the biblical case for apologetics and the apologetic method necessary for defending the faith.10 Apologetics plays a very important role in the Christian faith for it is our lifeline against any false attacks that may come our way. We use apologetics to discern the good from bad and to defend Christ as the Hope and the reason for our faith.

Bibliography

Provenzola, Thomas Evidentialism in The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics. Ed Hindson, Ergun Caner (Eugene, Harvest House, 2008), 208 10 Douglas, Groothuis; Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith (Downers Grove, InterVarsity, 2011) Chapter 1, under Apologetic Preliminaries, ebook

Craig, Lane, Williams. Reasonable Faith Christian Truth and Apologetics. Wheaton, ILL: Moody Press, 1984. Geisler, L. Norman. Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1992. Douglas, Groothuis; Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith (Downers Grove, InterVarsity, 2011) Chapter 1, under Apologetic Preliminaries, ebook Haugk, C. Kenneth. Antagonists in the Church. Minneapolis, Minn: Augsburg Publishing, 1988. McDowell, Josh. Evidence that Demands a Verdict. San Bernardino, CA: Here's Life Publishers,Inc, 1972. Provenzola, Thomas. "Evidentialism." In The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics, by Ed Hindson and Ergun Caner. Eugene, OR: Harvest House, 2008.